Indian Minister threatens Pakistan on alleged ceasefire violations

NEW DELHI-The Indian Army will respond to ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said today. The Indian minister also criticized the killing of civilians in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir in alleged Pakistani firing. "Our army is prepared to respond to each violation. The country has full faith that they (army) are effectively protecting both the territory and the national interest," Jaitley told the media here. "The loss of civilian lives is considered condemnable even in war. During peace, it is even more condemnable." Jaitley said the Indian army and the defense ministry were collecting information on the latest violation of the 2003 ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. "We will give our detailed reaction later," he said. Meanwhile, Jaitley commissioned the first indigenously built stealth anti-submarine warfare corvette 'INS Kamorta' today. Kamorta, a frontline warship with an array of anti-submarine warfare, anti-air and anti-surface weapons and sensors, is the first of four ASW stealth corvettes designed by Indian Navy's in-house organization, Directorate of Naval Design (DND). It would carry short-range Surface-to-Air missiles (SAM) and Active Towed Array Decoy System (ATDS). It can also carry an integral ASW helicopter.